rb67 height problem

nwilkins · Feb 9, 2013

Has anyone come up with an ingenious way of getting enough elevation to look down into an RB67 if you need the lens at eye level or above? When outdoors it's not always possible to find something to stand on. Any lightweight/collapsible solutions? I realize that a prism finder would help but I'm hoping I can stick with what I have (ie the chimney finder).

Jeff Kubach · Feb 9, 2013

Maybe a small stepladder?

Jeff

EASmithV · Feb 9, 2013

Mirror on a stick? Periscope contraption with three mirrors and foam board?

markbarendt · Feb 9, 2013

Use a prism finder?

tkamiya · Feb 9, 2013

Flip the RB upside down? (I'm not kidding)

tkamiya · Feb 9, 2013

Drink more milk? (Now, I AM kidding!)

nwilkins · Feb 9, 2013

thanks for the suggestions. As I said I am hoping not to have to get a prism finder, and the stepladder would work but it too cumbersome for taking into the field. So I guess I'll have to build a periscope! Unless someone has indeed found an ingenious solution?

nwilkins · Feb 9, 2013

tkamiya said:
Flip the RB upside down? (I'm not kidding)

that actually could work, couldn't it?

tkamiya · Feb 9, 2013

Yes, it does work. I've done it. The image will, of course, be upside down but who cares.... right?

I'll focus at waist level, then frame it overhead or even looking at the WLF side ways right next to my head to frame. (rotate your back vertically to get horizontal shots!) You might end up with a stiff neck, but that's a small sacrifice to pay....

nyoung · Feb 9, 2013

For eye level at least my tripod heads let me flip the camera side ways (90 degrees) and look in the view finder from the side. Rotate the back to get which ever framing you want.

kbrede · Feb 9, 2013

Just to make sure you do know, you can get a non-AE prism. It's lighter and cheaper than the AE version. That's the route I took.

rbultman · Feb 9, 2013

+1 on upside down.
Sent from my PI86100 using Board Express

MattKing · Feb 10, 2013

nyoung said:
For eye level at least my tripod heads let me flip the camera side ways (90 degrees) and look in the view finder from the side. Rotate the back to get which ever framing you want.

This is correct, but it definitely requires a very robust tripod and head.

My solution?

A camera case you can stand on, or a mirror in the waist level finder.

polyglot · Feb 10, 2013

I use a prism finder for this, but the drawback is that Mamiya 6x7 finders are *heavy* and I hate carrying one if at all possible. Overhead/upside-down definitely works in a pinch and gets you heaps of elevation, but I find that it's super-hard to get the framing straight with a WLF and neck craned upwards.

StoneNYC · Feb 10, 2013

But a Mamiya 7? Hahaha

Hey no viewfinder purchase needed hehe...

I've don't that with the side thing where you turn it sideways, never upside down, not even sure how to do that...

~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

paul ron · Feb 10, 2013

nwilkins said:
Has anyone come up with an ingenious way of getting enough elevation to look down into an RB67 if you need the lens at eye level or above? When outdoors it's not always possible to find something to stand on. Any lightweight/collapsible solutions? I realize that a prism finder would help but I'm hoping I can stick with what I have (ie the chimney finder).

you can turn the camera upside down or sideways n adjust the rotating back to what ever format you like. I've used this method many times in the field.. nothing so hard about it.

Alan Klein · Feb 10, 2013

Once I got my prism finder, I never went back. Never did like the reverse aiming issue anyway with the WLF. Of course, you can switch for those low shots.

nwilkins · Feb 10, 2013

okay thanks everyone - I will try the upside down and sideways methods. I do have reservations about being able to frame easily when doing this hand held, but I'll see how it goes. Should be able to rig it with the tripod too I guess.

Sirius Glass · Feb 10, 2013

If you want to be higher: try pot or hashish or http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...10053&langId=-1&keyword=ladders&storeId=10051

Ric Trexell · Feb 10, 2013

A ladr-pod?

I have often wondered why some one does not make a combination ladder/tripod for times like this. I'll call it a ladr-pod. It would be a regular aluminum ladder with a tripod head mounted on it. I suppose it would not be too hard to convert a ladder to do this. Then you would not have to carry a tripod, but just a ladder. Maybe that is like saying, you wouldn't have to carry two pounds, just 10. Perhaps wheels could be mounted on it so you could just pull it. The ladder would also have to be adjustable so that it would work on a slope. I know, you are probably all saying, why not just borrow the ladder truck from the local fire department and have them raise it up to the 40 foot level for you?

darkroom · Feb 10, 2013

upside down

nwilkins · Feb 10, 2013

haha yes a ladder pod. I suppose someone could design a tripod with a very sturdy strut between two of the legs for this purpose? Another idea would be a camera backpack with a very tough (but lightweight) skeleton so I could stand on it.

bushpig · Feb 10, 2013

tkamiya said:
Flip the RB upside down? (I'm not kidding)

No. You're not. I've done this as well. Sometimes it's not feasible to shoot with the finder at waist-level. It's not the best, but it works and that's all that matters.

nwilkins said:
a camera backpack with a very tough (but lightweight) skeleton so I could stand on it.

I'm not going to lie. I want that REALLY bad.

polyglot · Feb 10, 2013

Ric Trexell said:
I have often wondered why some one does not make a combination ladder/tripod for times like this. I'll call it a ladr-pod. It would be a regular aluminum ladder with a tripod head mounted on it. I suppose it would not be too hard to convert a ladder to do this. Then you would not have to carry a tripod, but just a ladder. Maybe that is like saying, you wouldn't have to carry two pounds, just 10. Perhaps wheels could be mounted on it so you could just pull it. The ladder would also have to be adjustable so that it would work on a slope. I know, you are probably all saying, why not just borrow the ladder truck from the local fire department and have them raise it up to the 40 foot level for you?

It's called a Ladder with Manfrotto Super Clamp. And you mount your favourite ballhead to the clamp's socket.

dnjl · Feb 10, 2013

I've seen a Japanese photographer who carried around two massive DSLRs and a stepladder. He'd take crowd shots on that ladder of his, didn't care for all the funny looks it earned him.

By the way, the PD Prism finder is excellent. I prefer the WLF too, but the prism finder is not a compromise.

rb67 height problem

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